Books published by World Bank Publications

Argues that light manufacturing can offer a viable solution for Sub-Saharan Africa's need for structural transformation and productive job creation, given its potential competitiveness based on low wage costs and an abundance of natural resources that supply raw materials needed for industries.

Tertiary education can help countries become more globally competitive by developing a skilled, productive, and flexible labour force and by creating, applying, and spreading new ideas and technologies. This book examines the recent experience of 11 universities in nine countries that have grappled with the challenges of building successful research institutions.

What did the global food, fuel, and financial crises of 2008-11 mean to people living in the developing world? How did people cope with the crisis and how effective were they at averting major impacts? These are the questions addressed by this book, which emerged out of qualitative crisis monitoring initiatives carried out by IDS and the World Bank.

Provides a framework, guidelines, and practical tools for conducting an analysis of a country's trade competitiveness in terms of growth and share performance, diversification, and quality. It aims to facilitate the identification of the main constraints to improved trade competitiveness and the policy responses to overcome these constraints.

Helps programme managers and M&E technical staff to build sustainable monitoring and evaluation systems that supports good decision making.

Offers a comprehensive assessment of early child development across Tonga using the Tongan Early Human Capability Index instrument.

Identifies the interventions and factors that have contributed to reducing maternal mortality ratio and improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes in SAR. In this study, the analytical framework assumes that improving MRH outcomes is influenced by a multitude of forces from within and outside the health system and considers factors at the household and community levels.

Argentina is one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America. Its path to economic prosperity is through efficient, sustainable and economically thriving cities. This book provides a conceptual framework, empirical data, and strategic directions for leveraging the potential of Argentine cities.

This book carries out an initial assessment of Nepal's urban growth and spatial transformation, with a focus on spatial demographic and economic trends, economic growth drivers and the infrastructure requirements of Nepal's urban regions. It notes that Nepal is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in South Asia.

This book is an effort to bring rental housing to the forefront of the housing agenda of countries around the world and to provide general guidance for policy makers whose actions can have an effect on where and how people live. It warns of the challenges they face and provides guidelines on how to develop or redevelop a sound rental sector.

This joint World Bank/OECD volume is the second edition of a 2006 study which charts donor approaches, experiences, and challenges integrating human rights into development policy. It analyses a range of rationales for donor approaches to human rights and results these have yielded in policies, programs and projects.

Reviews the conceptual underpinnings and operational elements of public works programmes around the world. Drawing from a rich evidence base including programme documentation, policy papers, peer-reviewed publications, and empirical data from over 40 countries, it provides an overview of the state of public works programmes and how they function as part of wider social protection systems.

The Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) is one of the world's best-known series of conferences for the presentation and discussion of new knowledge on development. 'Lessons from East Asia and the Global Financial Crisis' was the theme of the ABCDE held in Seoul, 2009.

Topics covered in the volume include both broad themes and specific sectors. It makes a strong case for integrating development into the G20 agenda and the need to bring non-G20 developing countries on board to ensure their participation in the global recovery and sustained growth and to enhance the legitimacy and credibility of the G20 process.

Public programs are designed to reach certain goals and beneficiaries. This book deals with the methods to understand whether such programs actually work, as well as the level and nature of impacts on intended beneficiaries.

A report that proposes to focus Nigeria's economic diversification strategy around knowledge, productivity and innovation to create a stable and prosperous economy ready for the competitiveness challenges of the 21st century. It argues that Nigeria must leave behind the narrow and static oil-based paradigms of past growth.

Analyses the dynamics of backbone network development in Sub-Saharan Africa. This book outlines a policy approach to promote investment and extend networks into underserved areas.